Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Today I spent $800 on formula at Babies R Us. Yes, you read that correctly. I bought enough canisters of formula mix to last (conservatively) two months. Our formula (Nestle Good Start) is cheapest at BRU ($1 or more than in every grocery store and wholesale club I've been to). BRU was selling the 20% bonus size canister for 99 cents off the regular price of a normal size canister. Swoop! Swoop! In goes 24 canisters plus 5 boxes of 25 8 ounce pre-made cans of the same formula since Husband and I decided we are too tired in the AM to mix formula for their first bottle. Penny won't eat formula mixed the night before - dude, she's picky! Maybe we'll start mixing again if the kids start sleeping past 6 am.

Yikes - having twins is expensive! Ned outgrew the 3-6 months clothes the other week. And I discovered after buying a bunch of packages (and washing) of the Gerber onsies that they run VERY SMALL - they barely fit even though they say size 6-9 months. [Drat - just remembered I wanted to buy some Carter onsies at BRU (which run truer to size/slightly large) - this will teach me to shop without a shopping list.]

All these costs creep up on you. I was impressing Husband with my formula and baby food price comparison and knowledge. That portion of my brain is sure to be gone once I return to work so he's enjoying my thriftiness while he can. He also better appreciate how much money I saved us by breastfeeding so much the first four months. Of course if you add in the breastfeeding clothes, storage and pumping materials...okay, that's pricey too.

Not sure if there is a Carter's outlet near you, but they have really good deals on the basics, particularly pajamas.

I always tell people having twins is a money flow problem. It may cost roughly the same as having two singletons, but you need the money all at once. I never cease to be shocked when my friends start to put their second kid in day care and mention to ME that it is so expensive! Yeah, you should try putting two babies in the infant room at once! Or buying formula for two! Or paying for two co-pays every time they are sick! Even babysitters are more expensive.

(At least now I can totally justify our extremely large grocery bill full of organic and local stuff bc it's still cheaper than formula!)

Theresa- Breastfeeding clothes are made with discreet slits and/or flaps so that you don't have to feel like you're undressing or exposing your "mummy tummy" every time you nurse. IMHO, they are overrated, except for nursing tank tops, which are like a nursing bra and a tank all in one.

The Gerber onsies are small, but we loved that when Emma and James came home and all the other onsies were massive on them. Gerber newborn onsies were all that fit! Recently, I just made the dresser switchout from 0-3 to 3-6 month clothes and pulled out soem of those tiny onsies to save and they fit perfectly on cabbage patch dolls!

Yes, the Gerber onesies are TINY! I remember I bought some 9-18 month ones for Finn and he was barely able to wear them by the time he was a year old. In organizing for this baby, I have put all the 0-3 month Gerber onesies I have in the same basket as the newborn/premie clothes, because I know they will fit.

Ah yes. So, so expensive. And sheesh - it just doesn't end. The formula stops but the diapers are still there. And the diapers stop, but there's pull-ups. And the pull-ups phase out, but there's there's pre-school costs! (that's where we are now) And from what I can gather, after the pre-school costs come athletic and club costs. And then college. All this times *2* :)

But like Theresa said - it's 2 times the cuteness as well. I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING. :)

If you think it is expensive now...just wait...the right clothes, a car or better yet college or even more...a wedding. But overall it is worth it as long as your daughters still speak to you every Sunday. Mom

Yep, I remember the days of scoping out BRU flyers and looking for formula coupons anywhere I could get them. I think the most cans I ever bought at one time was 12, but that was because 12 was the most I could find.

Oh, and I have also been know to go to different BRUs (as long as I am in the area) to get the bargains. LOL